Chapter 68: The Master Asks for Punishment (Seeking Bookmarks)

  I'd like to ask the incoming friends to use their little fingers to click on the collection position a few more times, only after collecting it will be more convenient. Your labor is just giving old Yan a snowflake in the snow, and old Yan bows here to thank you!

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  After the meeting of party and government officials in the town, the town again convened the branch secretaries and village directors to implement specific measures. Lu Zhengdong was very familiar with these village cadres, and they all had a tight life. After completing their tasks, each village could have two or three thousand yuan. Lu Zhengdong's salary plus bonuses totaled only over 2,000 yuan per year. If there were really two or three thousand, this would mainly be used for the overtime pay of village cadres, with the branch secretary and village director taking the largest share, with at least 700-800 yuan each. This was already a considerable income in the town.

  Moreover, the township government has made a commitment to strictly prohibit forced price reduction during the acquisition process, and fertilizers can also be chosen independently. With that, the work below will be much easier to do. The vast majority of village cadres are smiling with joy, holding announcements covered with the township government's seal, as well as propaganda leaflets to go back and work in their villages.

  The village cadres are even more so, each with their own tasks, the completion of which is linked to bonuses and rewards, not to mention that failure to complete will also be dealt with, so everyone is doing their best.

  Lu Zhengdong also set up two publicity offices on the scene during the fair, to publicize to the villagers who came to the fair. In order to increase authority, there were leaders of the township in each publicity office.

  The publicity work was carried out in an orderly manner, and the task was not easy. Wu Zhonghe and Lu Zhengdong also dared not to take it lightly, and Lu Zhengdong even went to some key villages to understand the progress of the situation on the spot.

  "Director Lu, Director Yang Jingshan of the County Tobacco Monopoly Bureau has arrived at the township. Secretary Wu is in Ludu Village and wants to ask you what to do first."

  Lu Zhengdong was in Yangdu Village, the largest tobacco-growing village in the countryside, for publicity and mobilization when Xiao Li from the township duty office rushed over.

  Lu Zhengdong nodded, he knew why the tobacco company people came.

  He openly allowed farmers in the mountains and countryside to purchase pesticides and fertilizers on their own, and the tobacco company soon found out, calling him angrily.

  Lu Zhengdong's intention was to force the tobacco company to lower the prices of fertilizers and pesticides to market levels, or encourage tobacco farmers to continue buying fertilizers and pesticides from the tobacco company, which would be beneficial for both farmers and the tobacco company.

  Lu Zhengdong originally negotiated with the tobacco company, but unexpectedly, the tobacco company deceived him, treating him as a subordinate of their institution. They didn't listen to any reason and instead scolded and threatened him repeatedly.

  In fact, the people in charge of other towns may not have such thoughts either. They also know that tobacco companies selling fertilizers and pesticides is not a good thing to do, but the financial income from tobacco sales accounts for a relatively large proportion of the town's finances, so they dare not offend the tobacco company easily, therefore even if it is difficult to work for the ordinary people below, they do not dare to speak out.

  Shanhe is not the same as it used to be. The financial revenue from tobacco is just a tiny part of the township's finances, and they're not afraid at all. As for the tobacco company trying to strangle them by controlling purchases, Shanhe is not someone to be trifled with either. If he proposes that the township use supply and marketing cooperatives, agricultural material companies, or organize their own sources, they won't buy from the tobacco company. If he takes the lead, other townships will definitely follow suit, and the tobacco company won't make a single cent from pesticides and fertilizers. The tobacco company doesn't dare not to collect Shanhe's tobacco, even if he doesn't want to sell it. This is county-level financial revenue we're talking about, and after all the effort the county has put in, they definitely won't let others take advantage of them. Shanhe is fearless, and the fact that he hasn't threatened the tobacco company yet is already being generous. And still, the tobacco company dares to threaten him...

  So they simply ignored it. The tobacco company saw the situation and couldn't sit still, so they came to the door to ask for an explanation.

  Lu Zhengdong nodded slightly:

  "Let him wait slowly, we should do what we need to do and finish the proper business before going back. Tell Secretary Wu to go back later..."

  Xiao Li was a little surprised in his heart, thinking that the tobacco company's people were coming down, one by one were arrogant and domineering, not even giving these clerks a glance. In the countryside, they were treated like masters, but now Mayor Lu not only dared to break the long-standing practice of selling tobacco, but also left the deputy director in the cold, it was really impressive, really refreshing.

  Lu Zhengdong didn't have Little Li's mind, he was unhappy with the tobacco company in his heart.

  The progress of Yangdu Village's task is very unsatisfactory. After several days, the actual planting area has not yet reached half of the task.

  Yangdu Village is a mountain village in the countryside, with few rice fields and more dry land, which is very suitable for planting flue-cured tobacco. It is the largest village in the countryside for planting flue-cured tobacco. Yangdu Village is the mainstay. If the task cannot be completed, it is difficult to make up for it from other places. After receiving this news, Lu Zhengdong also rushed to Yangdu Village to understand the situation on the spot.

  According to the county's propaganda, planting tobacco can bring in two or three times more income than planting crops. Planting tobacco for one year is equivalent to planting crops for several years. However, this is not actually the case. The tobacco company's price suppression and forced sale of fertilizers have greatly reduced farmers' profits. In fact, most farmers' actual income is very low even in good years with favorable weather conditions. Once a disaster occurs, it is inevitable that they will face difficulties in their livelihoods the following year.

  Lu Zhengdong has taken many measures, but in order to solve such problems, the focus is still on tobacco companies.

  Tobacco planting is an enterprise behavior that should be done by tobacco companies. The correct approach is for the company to work with farmers, with both sides freely negotiating and cooperating. Farmers plant tobacco, while tobacco companies provide technical support and related services, with government guidance.

  Tobacco companies can take measures to ensure that tobacco farmers have a basic living allowance, which is a small amount of money compared to their earnings. This would solve the biggest worry and make tobacco cultivation more stable. When disasters occur, ordinary people will not panic, and there will be no need for such county-wide mobilization, which is labor-intensive and costly.

  But it seems that in recent years, the county's finances have been tight, and the tobacco company has contributed a lot to the county's fiscal revenue every year. It is a key protected object of the county, and all aspects are protected, just like a spoiled child. On the contrary, the tobacco company makes money whether it should or not, and enjoys the benefits while the government takes care of everything. Once problems arise among tobacco farmers, all the contradictions are concentrated on the township government, which is a headache for the township government itself.

  These guys definitely didn't think that the tobacco company's profits mainly rely on these township officials, originally it was the tobacco company's job, now the government is helping to do it, but these guys still want to ride on their heads and shit, no way!

  He's so arrogant, let him cool down a bit, then we can talk business!

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